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TEMPLOT 3D PLUG TRACK - To get up to speed with this experimental project click here.   To watch an introductory video click here.   See the User Guide at Bexhill West.

  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed. Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.
  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

Mac help needed - exporting DXF files

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Location
UK
I am having difficult export DXF files from Templot. I just need to export the 2D files to set out the templates on 3mm MDF to use as a guide for track laying. ( Ie exporting to laser cutter/engraver). I seem to end up being trapped and unable to move the files.

Any help would be a great help.

Regards

Rex Carslake
 
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message ref: 4715
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Hi Rex,

Welcome to Templot Club. :)

Sorry, in messing with the DXF export for the 3-D stuff I have introduced a bug in 2-D. The open the containing folder function may not work. I will get it fixed.

Just click the continue option and carry on.

By default, your DXF file will be in:

C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\DXF-FILES\

from where you can open it in your CAD program:

2d_dxf.png


For the laser you probably need to change everything to black. Click the all black button below the list of combo boxes on the DXF dialog.

But you probably don't need all that data just for a tracklaying guide.

To remove unwanted elements, just right-click on each one in the list of combo boxes. This sets the colour to blank and switches off that layer in the file.

n.b. If the file is for laser-cutting of timbers, use only the cutter kerf options and remove everything else. Switch on real > chairing > experimental chairing for the template to get the kerf lines generated.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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message ref: 4716
Still struggling with the DFX files for export, I can not export the files from the DFX file. It will not allow me to drag the files either to an email or flash drive.

KInd regards

Rex Carslake
 
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message ref: 4720
@ian rex carslake

Hi Rex,

What and where you can use drag/drop is a Windows setting on your computer, it is nothing to do with Templot.

I just tried dragging and dropping a DXF file as an attachment in my email program (Thunderbird), and it worked fine.

If it is not working for you, try Copy/Paste instead. Right-click on the file and select Copy. Right click on the destination and select Paste.

Can anyone with more Windows knowledge help Rex?

cheers,

Martin.
 
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message ref: 4721
I am a bit puzzled by your expression "I can not export the files from the DXF file".
There are no files inside the DXF file, it is just a file containing text.
You can even open it with notepad. Just right click the file and select "open with" from the rop down menu, then select notepad.

Are you able to do that?
 
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message ref: 4723
Thanks Martin and Steve,

Small problem may be due to my Mac system /on Crossover. (which works very well).

Will have a go via notepad.

Kind regards

Rex
 
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message ref: 4725
@ian rex carslake

Hi Rex,

Ah!

This is the first time you have mentioned that you are using CrossOver and not Windows! I have changed the topic title accordingly.

Please folks, provide the essential information when asking for help. My telepathy machine is broken. :)

In CrossOver everything is fine if you stay inside it, but when you want to get your files out of it, it gets tricky.

I recommend that CrossOver users save exported Templot stuff onto an external drive or USB stick, instead of the default TEMPLOT_DEV folders inside CrossOver. External drives are easily accessible from any operating system, or even on a different computer.

I can tell you how to do that on Linux, but I know nothing about a Mac, sorry.

Any Mac users able to help Rex? He wants to get his DXF file into a Mac CAD package, or email it to someone, for laser engraving.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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message ref: 4726
I save all my files (including the program) onto my cloud server.
Within finder, I have mapped a shortcut to the Templot directory within the C:\ virtual drive within the bottle created by crossover.
Dear Simon,

I have been away hense my slow reply. I will have a look at your suggestions. I am on the naughie steep for not saying I am on a Mac.

KInd regards

Rex Carslake
 
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message ref: 4751
@ian rex carslake

Hi Rex,

Ah!

This is the first time you have mentioned that you are using CrossOver and not Windows! I have changed the topic title accordingly.

Please folks, provide the essential information when asking for help. My telepathy machine is broken. :)

In CrossOver everything is fine if you stay inside it, but when you want to get your files out of it, it gets tricky.

I recommend that CrossOver users save exported Templot stuff onto an external drive or USB stick, instead of the default TEMPLOT_DEV folders inside CrossOver. External drives are easily accessible from any operating system, or even on a different computer.

I can tell you how to do that on Linux, but I know nothing about a Mac, sorry.

Any Mac users able to help Rex? He wants to get his DXF file into a Mac CAD package, or email it to someone, for laser engraving.

cheers,

Martin.
Dear Martin,

I have been away, so the slow response. I am sorry I did not explan my self more clearly (regarding the use of a devilsh Mac and Crossover) I will have a look at your suggestions. Thanks. I will have a look this afternoon dispite the heat.

Kind regards

Rex Carslake

10/08/22.
 
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message ref: 4753
Dear Martin,

I have been away, so the slow response. I am sorry I did not explan my self more clearly (regarding the use of a devilsh Mac and Crossover) I will have a look at your suggestions. Thanks. I will have a look this afternoon dispite the heat.

Kind regards

Rex Carslake

10/08/22.
Dear Martin,

A computor illerate.

Regards

Rex
 
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message ref: 4754
11/10/22


Dear Martin and Simon,

Trials of dfx file and a Mac machine. I have at last found my way through the morass, Wine Bottler and Crossover seem to not like the Mac, so recourse to Parelle which my Mac seems to accept and I can at last export the dfx files.

Although it is a bit of sod when starting up Windows. I will accept that.

Thanks again for the help and guidance.

Kind regards


Rex Carslake
 
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message ref: 5032
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